Court hears woman 'close to tears' after alleged attack by consultant

A HOSPITAL worker told the Southampton consultant sex trial how a woman was close to tears after leaving his office where she had delivered files.

The member of staff told jurors the alleged victim had been away for about 15 minutes before returning.

Asked how she was, the worker replied: “She was really agitated. She was upset and near to tears.”

She was testifying in the trial of consultant Animesh Banerjee, who is accused of sexually assaulting the woman at the Royal South Hants Hospital on June 12 last year.

The ear, nose and throat specialist, pictured, who had been working for Care UK at the hospital since 2010, is alleged to have grabbed the woman’s right breast, telling her: “It’s all your fault – you’re gorgeous.”

Jurors heard the remark left the victim thinking the consultant was “a creep” and “a bit slimey.”

The hospital worker told the city crown court that before the alleged incident the woman had been fine. She said the woman told her how Banerjee had assaulted her. “I didn’t know what to do,” she said. “I told her she must see someone about it. I said, ‘You need to talk to management about it because that’s not correct’.”

The woman said she accompanied the alleged victim to the consultant’s room to pick up some notes, where he was sitting in a chair.

“He said, I see you have brought a bodyguard with you this time. I can still molest you.”

But the hospital worker colleague said she told him;”No, you can’t.” Banerjee, from Eastleigh, denies indecent assault and common assault.